I looked up the regs on what can be carried on my Qantas flight to Australia... knitting needles of all types are strictly forbidden! Which means that I not only have the international flight without needles, I also have to fly from home to LA and have all those layovers without needles (about 23 hours, not my longest flight time ever but last time I had knitting)! I was so looking forward to all that knitting time!
I have to have something to do because I can't sleep while flying. Between in flight movies (assuming I don't have to pay for the video player), reading, and sudoku/word searches, I figure I can keep myself happily busy for about half that time.
So:
Given 10 hours of no knitting, no TV, no phone, no friends, and limited luggage... What do you do to fill the time?

That would drive me insane! Have you actually called the airline? I have never flown Quantas, but my daughter is actually in the air as I write winging her way to Japan and she brought her douple pointed needles and yarn.
I would bring a cheapo pair of needles and yarn, just in case..to me it would be worth it to possibly have them take it away!! I have flown about 5 times this year and it has never been a problem..I'd check again.

No idea whose reg the no needles rule is. I know that most airlines DO allow knitting needles going to Japan, Europe, Ecuador, and domestic), so I don't know what's up with Qantas. Maybe it is Australia's rule. Here it is:
Governments have directed that for security reasons, all knives, sharp objects or cutting implements of any kind and any length, whether of metal or other material, and some sporting goods, must be packed in your checked baggage. They cannot be carried in your cabin baggage or on your person.
Sharp objects or cutting implements include but are not limited to: any knife, including paper knives, carpet knives, box cutters, letter openers, scissors of any kind, tradesman's tools, screwdrivers, corkscrews, darts and knitting needles.
'Sporting goods' include but are not limited to: sporting bats, billiard/snooker/pool cues, catapults.
(Dangit, I can't take my catapult, either...)
I LOVE the pencils idea. Obviously if I plan to do crosswords, I should have a couple on hand... Why should I be allowed to write but not knit with the same items...
How do you keep the graphite from breaking off, and how do you keep the graphite from getting all over the yarn? Do mechanical pencils work? I don't have any at the moment that don't have grips at the base.
Garter stitch just won't do, though...
Off to find a good pattern.

Treat yourself to a few new knitting magazines! Some crossword puzzles or sudoku? I hope the US doesn't get the same idea that knitting needles are dangerous. Knitting is what keeps me sane on long flights (or even short flights).